Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health

Library Competencies Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen students' competencies in searching, synthesizing and presenting public health information.

The following describes what is expected for this assignment.

1) Watch the 4 videos: "Defining Your Questions", "Finding a Journal Article", "Selecting Resources", and "Copyright & Plagiarism" posted on the Blackboard course page.

2) Select one of the following two scenarios:

a. voting public health media campaigns around nutrition and individuals' eating habits can potentially hove both positive and unintended negative effects.

For example, o positive outcome of a public health campaign might be to improve nutrition and reduce risk for obesity and pre-diabetes in teens.

On the other hand, an unintended negative outcome might be that the campaign makes teens feel even worse about their overweight bodies, eating behaviors, and themselves (i.e., lowering their self-esteem).

b. Public health messages about birth control or safe sex for populations con have both positive and unintended negative outcomes. For example, the expected positive outcomes might be that STOs/HIV and unintended pregnancy are reduced for a population group as a result of the public health message.

However, on unintended outcome might occur in which the same population may
feel they are being judged or stereotyped os promiscuous, and thus ignore the message.

3) Prepare a 2 - 3 page paper that presents 2 supporting arguments demonstrating positive outcomes of public health media campaigns focused on nutrition or birth control/safe sex.

Also, present 2 supporting arguments demonstrating potential unintended negative outcomes of such a campaign. Then based on your research, explain why you would or would not promote the public health campaign you described.

Do you think the message Is more likely to have a positive or a negative outcome? Explain why.

4) Be sure to:

a) use quality, peer-reviewed research and evidence;

b) cite your in-text references and create your list of references in APA style; b) clearly distinguish between your opinion and that of others (be sure to use In-text citations);

c) maintain an objective and professional tone in your writing;

d) be specific and provide support from the literature for your statements;

e) present your words not the words of others from literature or Internet sources.